I'm an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me

“Ah... I’ve never really thought about it.”

At Na Yuna’s bland reply, the topic of conversation shifted again.

Now it was about department blind dates and group dates. One of the things that could never be left out of the romanticized image of college life. The table grew lively.

“I want to hang out with the sports department guys. Does anyone know someone?”

“I became friends with this guy recently, and his face is pretty good. Look at his friends too.”

“I don’t really like doing it with people from the same school. What if you run into them later even if they’re from another department? That’d be awkward.”

Na Yuna leaned her body back slightly. She kept a small distance from the freshmen crowding together to look at someone’s profile picture on a phone.

“Hey. Let’s stop talking about stuff like this.”

It was the voice of the same classmate who had turned the arrow toward Yuna earlier.

Her voice was especially loud, drawing attention in an instant.

“Yuna unni might get hurt!”

The tone carried laughter. Anyone could tell it wasn’t something said out of genuine concern.

Yuna awkwardly crossed her arms. It was a posture that appeared unconsciously, as if to protect herself.

“Huh? Why would Yuna unni?”

“Well, if unni goes to a group date it’d be kind of weird, right? Even seniors just one year older say that if you don’t go to group dates as a freshman, when else will you do it—then they start calling you a grandma.”

At this time of year, the age of twenty held absolute power.

In the strange arithmetic ★ ★ of campus life, the moment someone turned twenty-one they were already treated like a grandmother. That rule applied to Na Yuna as well.

Na Yuna, who was two years older even than those twenty-one-year-old “old freshmen,” felt her cheeks heat up.

“Unni, don’t worry. You’re pretty, so I’ll introduce you to some older seniors.”

“Right. Yuna unni just doesn’t dress up. If you did, you’d totally be the type to become really pretty.”

Words that carried no malicious intent were tossed casually.

The classmate who had placed Yuna on the chopping block smiled brightly.

Why was healing called healing?

Because it was an emotion that began from a wounded state—that was Director So’s calculation.

Stacking the wounds that Na Yuna, Jeong Heejeong, and Go Yungyo had to receive one by one, packing them into the camera like diary entries, So Yesol smiled.

* * *

[RoomPowder / Han Yeoreum fan-sign blush answer is out! It’s a product from brand D.]

It was posted on Gogyeol teacher’s Yousta story. It’s D brand Whipping Glow Filter 04 Daisy haha. A lot of similar products came out, I should’ve waited before buying...T_T Somehow the color looked different from the photo, sob.

— Wow thank you TT_TT I was desperately looking for this(≡^∇^≡)

— When I saw Han Yeoreum’s photos I really wanted it, but when I saw the official website swatch it suddenly made me not want to buy it...LOLOL Is it just me?

ㄴ Same here, the official swatch looks dullㅜ Guess it’s just her skin doing all the work

ㄴ If you hesitate it’ll sell out again, you know? I just bought it without thinking~! Haha

“Hohohohoho....”

Manager Ma scrolled down with a satisfied smile.

Brand A’s lipstick had sold out twice in a row. Once during 〈EmBubu〉, and once during 〈The Great Garland〉.

And now it was brand D’s blush.

During the fan-sign event, JC ENM had released plenty of high-resolution photos.

Right now, no matter who said otherwise, Han Yeoreum was the hottest celebrity.

The viral response could only be positive.

[HOT / The celebrity who talks more than the fans at the fan-sign event.jpg]

She’s signing with her hand, talking nonstop with her mouth, and her eyes are locked on the fan the whole time LOOLLLLLL

(Photo of Yeoreum signing.jpg)

Anonymous1: There’s not a single photo where she isn’t smiling LOOOLLLLL

Anonymous2: Huijae... seeing you smile like that is nice... ^~^..... Are you doing well?

ㄴ Anonymous11: Please don’t bring up that name, our hearts are breaking

Anonymous39: Her skin is insane, that blush is so cute TT_TT ahh my woman

Anonymous42: Today’s dice roll is a 6 LOLOL hair makeup outfit combo is perfect

“Anyway, Dok Gogyeol really does have an incredible sense for raking in money.”

Dok Gogyeol had chosen Han Yeoreum’s cheeks as the feature that would stand out most at the fan-sign event.

Every time Yeoreum smiled, her cheeks lifted, and the apricot-toned blush applied there was more than enough to draw attention.

It was a natural attraction.

After all, Han Yeoreum hadn’t stopped smiling for even a moment during the fan-sign.

The soft apricot color glowing on her cheeks sparkled in every single photo. The translucent glow seemed to shine straight through the screen.

“And in the middle of all that she’s selling her own glow stick too....”

Skin texture that couldn’t be created by blush alone.

By adding a marble-cased glow stick on top of Yeoreum’s cheeks, Dok Gogyeol created makeup that anyone would want to copy.

The result was proven quickly.

[04 Daisy / Sold Out]

The moment people heard Han Yeoreum had used it, it sold out in less than a day.

Not only beauty communities filled with cosmetics enthusiasts, but even general communities began spreading viral posts about brand D’s product.

— Some offline stores still have it, I bought one at the Express Bus Terminal shop!

— TT_TT My payment was confirmed but shipping got delayed... damn it, it arrives in three weeks

— (Photo of similar products.jpg) For those who have both, can this replace it?

High-end fashion has a very clear hierarchy even within a single brand.

First: Global house ambassador.

Only stars whose faces immediately come to mind when you hear the brand name can take this position.

They are literally the face of the brand, representing fashion, beauty, and jewelry.

Second: Fashion ambassador.

Focused on couture. Used for fashion shows and high-fashion magazines.

They often appear in award ceremonies wearing the brand’s dresses.

Whenever a new season arrives, photos of them wearing new items appear in front of stores.

Third: Beauty ambassador.

They advertise cosmetics such as perfume, lipstick, and skincare.

While the brand headquarters has official models for commercials and photoshoots, beauty ambassadors often appear in domestic magazine pictorials.

And finally, fourth: Campaign model.

A short-term ambassador contract limited to a season or domestic campaign.

Among these, Han Yeoreum aimed for the third.

Beauty ambassador.

“Since Eun Baekhap already took the global house role.”

Eun Baekhap was one of the few actresses with strong overseas popularity.

Among current actresses, her SNS followers ranked firmly first.

Brand D, expecting this project to become her signature work, had no choice but to prioritize her.

As soon as episode 8 of 〈The Great Garland〉 ended, brand D released articles announcing Eun Baekhap as ambassador.

They had perfectly ridden the buzz of the reunion scene between Gi Taeseok and Yeon Huijae.

“But when it comes to cosmetics, there’s no better option than Yeoreum.”

Manager Ma looked at his phone.

Anyone with common sense would—

Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.

“Have to grab her.”

Manager Ma picked up the phone.

Just as he expected.

Brand D wanted Han Yeoreum as their beauty ambassador.

“Three years, huh.”

Hearing the contract period, Manager Ma smiled.

“Hohohoho... hohohohoho!”

Three years was plenty.

More than enough time to raise Han Yeoreum high enough to devour Eun Baekhap.

Han Yeoreum would grow into a global ambassador.

* * *

[‘Nation’s First Love’ becoming ‘Nation’s Sold-Out Girl’? Han Yeoreum selected as brand D cosmetics ambassador]

[〈The Great Garland〉 Han Yeoreum reveals pictorial with brand D]

[Exclusive│The new face of brand D beauty, K-rising star Han Yeoreum’s legendary life shot]

“Wow.”

This was Daily Media, located in Jongno District.

As the end of the year approached, the entertainment news teams became busier.

With less than a month left until the year-end awards, reporters wrote Han Yeoreum’s name into headlines almost every day.

“How many commercials does she have now?”

“Let’s see... brand N, hair product ALAB, Creamy Soda, WeLand... then Melon Milk, hot chocolate, bedding... and now this one. Seven total.”

“That’s fewer than I expected. Is that really it?”

“The number doesn’t matter, the money does. Companies swarmed in, but Manager Ma rejected most of them.”

“True. It’s still too early to burn through her image. Still, brand D is definitely a big one.”

The reporters talked about Han Yeoreum so often that they knew her schedule almost as well as her manager.

“Han Yeoreum is definitely rising fast.”

Someone trailed off, clearly wanting to say more.

“She’s basically guaranteed the KBC Rookie Award.”

Everyone could already guess what came next.

“But can she beat Eun Baekhap?”

Among reporters there was now a quiet debate over who would win the KBC Best Couple Award.

Both sides were stubbornly convinced.

“No way, the early impact is everything! Bam! It hits you like bam!”

“You have to look at the later episodes. The story matters.”

“Eun Baekhap has two nominations, so I still think that side has the better chance.”

There was a saying:

Films belong to directors, dramas belong to writers.

Success depended on who held the key point of the production.

And right now, the writer of 〈The Great Garland〉, Ahn Junmyeong, had become a massive hit.

There was practically no one in the industry who didn’t know his name.

At the moment, WeLand was so successful it almost seemed like the writer was riding a divine blade.

* * *

A photograph of a happy newlywed couple hung like a masterpiece.

Taeseok couldn’t help but admire a past moment of Huijae’s with trembling.

“President Gi and I might actually get along well.”

A gentle voice pierced his ears.

Taeseok lowered his gaze toward Taejin, who stood directly beneath the wedding photo.

“I heard you’re planning to expand your coffee business.”

In this era, sugar was inseparable from coffee.

And in that matter, Taejin held absolute power over Gi Taeseok.

He was a giant capable of earning unimaginable sums.

Yet for some reason, Taeseok couldn’t even laugh bitterly.

He quietly shifted his gaze.

The girl he had longed to see even once in his dreams was looking at him.

“...Yes. I plan to supply every hotel in Seoul.”

“That’s a wonderful plan. Honestly, when we returned to Seoul we were so surprised. Both of us—everything had changed so much since the day we left for America.”

A large hand gently patted a delicate shoulder.

Taeseok’s eyes burned.

His entire body grew hot.

It felt as if someone had lit a fire under his skin.

Every nerve in his body thrashed wildly.

He wanted to scream for help.

He wanted to run out of this place and pour freezing water over himself.

If he did that, maybe he could wake from this dream.

Perhaps this terrible nightmare had been created by his desperate wish to see her face again.

“Now that I think about it, the season when flowers bloom brightly is almost here. It seems we returned at the perfect time. I’m excited to see how beautiful Seoul will become.”

Huijae, who was drinking clear tea instead of coffee, spoke for the first time.

“The pear blossoms... I first saw in Joseon... will bloom soon.”

This wasn’t a dream.

Taeseok couldn’t even imagine Huijae speaking in such an unfamiliar voice.

The girl who once spoke Joseon words like a child had grown up.

Huijae brought up a story only the two of them could understand.

Taeseok’s throat bobbed.

When their eyes met, Huijae’s gaze was gentle.

A harmonious family.

A loving husband.

A happy life.

And the unwanted guest who could only watch it all.

At that moment, Taeseok was a perfect third party.

He couldn’t even remember how he continued the conversation.

Only after enduring what felt like an eternity did he finally turn his back on Huijae.

The moment Taeseok stepped outside Taejin’s house, he began retching.

After struggling for a long time, he staggered forward.

— Ever since the trailer came out this scene was seriously miserable

— What do I do, I’m crying too...TT_TT

— Ji Haebeom should film a full tragedy drama once, his face is insane, he’s totally husband material//

After that, Taeseok locked himself in his office.

Every time he closed his eyes, Huijae’s wedding photo appeared vividly.

Climb higher.

That desire alone kept Taeseok alive.

The answer was simple.

There was no need to think long about it.

All he had to do was remove the man standing beside her.